No Nylon Here | Exploring Socks Part 2

It seems rather fitting that I am writing this update as I prepare for another trip to the UK. I had intended to writethis post when I got back from my last trip but time slipped through my fingers as it so often does.

The Update

I took my trusty Lanson socks with me to the UK and I gave them a pretty thorough wear test. We travelled the length and bredth of the UK for 4 weeks and I am pretty confident I wore the Lanson socks for about 80% of that time, tucked into my hardy and very cosy Merrell waterproof boots. I don’t have any time for cold and wet feet!

How did they hold up?

For a laugh I tried them on just before we left Brisbane and for a moment I could not imagine a place where you could need such warm socks. This phenomena happens when you live in a sub tropical climate where shorts and sandals are your ‘go-to’ wardrobe.

Needless to say when I got to the UK I was quickly reminded of the benefit of warm socks and hastily pulled on my Lanson.

They were warm (super warm) and supremely cosy. Perfect for cold, damp conditions. They are slightly thicker than average 4ply hand knit socks but that works for me as my boots accommodate the thicker sock very well.

They wick moisture like a dream (I walked miles and miles in those socks) and I can attest to their ability to remain fresh after multiple days of wear. In fact I wore them pretty much non-stop for 2 weeks. You see, we moved so much and I knew if I washed them I would never get them dry and then I would be forced to wear other socks as I carried my damp socks from place to place waiting for the to dry. I figured it would be better to just keep them on – and I was right, they were fresh and comfortable to wear day after day.

Any holes?

After 4 weeks of virtually constant wear in walking books, travelling miles and miles, they held up perfectly. Not a hole in sight and the fabric did not show any signs of significant wear.

On the inside there was a little bit of that ‘fluff’ you get from all the friction of wear but nothing terrible and after a quick wash they were good as new.

There is a spot on the ball of my foot that I think over time will need some re-enforcing but that’s a place where I am hard on my socks and I’m happy to maintain my hand-knit socks to ensure longevity.

What's Next?

On Monday I am headed back to the UK for two weeks to teach at Edinburgh Yarn Festival, and the sock experiment continues.

I have two pairs on the needles at the moment that I hope to have ready for wear during my trip.

Interested in naturally tough sock inspiration - have you seen the #tuffsocksnaturally tag on Instagram - definitely worth a look. If you have knitted socks without nylon why not post a picture and tag it so we can all see your gorgeous creations.